I received my Manson Barrel crowning set . Pilots 22, 24 , 27 , 28, 30, and 33 . I decided to try it out on my Model 70 because i didn't like the 24 inch barrel on the rifle or the factory crown, so i cut it to 22.5 inch and crowned with the Manson tool. Also got to try out my New Milwaukee Hand Held Band Saw , worked great went through the barrel steel like hot butter. The Manson tool worked great and I'm not sure i could have done a better job on my Lathe. Here the photos, Manson Crowning set, the crown after cutting and the complete rifle after shortening the barrel.

ENABLER!

I've wanted to try this for some time and may have to do it now. I absolutely HATE barrels longer than 22". I have one that's 24" that I want to cut down and one that I want to cut down to 16-1/4".

That crown looks awesome. Did you use anything on it after you used the Manson tool?? Or is that how it finishes the crown??

Sweet!

Too bad they messed up that rifle by building it on the wrong side!

Tested it on paper after yet?

Mike

I did nothing after crowning with the Manson tool and yes it never changed zero going from the 24 inch to 22.5 inchs. My hunting load of 54 gr of IMR 4350 and the Nosler 130 gr BT put the first two shots in the same hole and the third out about 1/4 inch from the first two at 100 yards, group was under a 1/2 inch. Accuracy improved over the factory crown. I'm sold on this crowning tool. Never had to touch the adjustment on the Zeiss was still dead on 2 inch high at 100 yards and that was a surprise. I wouldn't expect this to happen very often after shortening the barrel on a rifle. Just lucky i guess. This was the finished crown after using the tool with no other work.

That is too cool!

Mike

VERY nice, looks like you did it on a lathe.

Bea, were you able to cut the barrel square with the band saw or did the Manson clean up any imperfections from the cut?

P.S. Bolt looks to be on the correct side to me.

The crown looks pretty smooth. What did you use for cutting fluid?

Found this video on youtube

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-Xpzv1Spsnk[/video]

Looks great but I don't know if I could have brought myself to cut down the barrel on a LH stainless Model 70.

no the band saw didn't cut it exactly square, but close. I used a file to square it so the tool wouldn't have to cut so much. I then used the flat target crowning tool to square it 100% then switched to the 11 degree to finish the crown . The cutting oil i used was the same one i use on the lathe for cutting chambers and threading the tenon when barreling one of my rifles. I cut my heavy barrel Varmint 700 in 22-250 today from 26 inch to 24 and re-crowned it, turned out perfect. I will take a photo tomorrow and post it of the crown i did today using the Manson. This tool sure does save time since i don't have to pull the barrel from the action to cut and crown it.

Here is the Rem 700 22-250 i cut two inch's off and re-crowned with the Manson Tool. I need to add a little more cold blue to the muzzle . Photo of complete rifle after cutting barrel .

What would you charge a fellow lefty to lop 2 inches off a couple barrels and recrown?

nothing

Give a kid a crowning tool, and suddenly everything needs crowning!

That's a slick tool. I can see one in my future.

I also have Lathe and do my barreling and cambering and hate like hell to pull a factory barrel to cut and crown, just won't do it . I have been wanting to cut and crown theses two rifles for a while and that is why i purchased the Manson set. I do all of my own gunsmithing. I didn't pay almost 500 bucks for something to sit and look at, but to use. Photo of my lathe. When i pull a factory barrel it is to replace not cut and crown and the Manson Tool is a time saver and well worth the cost. Lots of folks have questions about this tool and hesitate to buy because of the cost. This will answer some of their questions.

I recently bought the military kit with the 90 and 11 degree cutters to finish my 336 35 Remington chop, it works slicker 'n goose $hit and I am ready to order six pilots.

I hope to pay for the tool and pilots re-crowning the college kids military rifles.

What is the minimum amount you have to cut off a barrel to recrown or do you have to cut any?

You don't have to cut any, as long as the rifling is good.

Bea175, I was just busting your chops. You have a great setup.

If i'm cutting a barrel to 24 inch or any other length i always leave a extra 1/4 or sightly less in case i have to re-crown again on down the road. You don't have cut any off to re-crown if you don't want the barrel any shorter than it is.

Bea, thanks for the pics. Looks like a better finished product than I got with the Brownells unit. Did you cut a 45 on the lands.

i cut the barrel with the the zero degree cutter then the eleven degree to finish and then chanfered the outside with the forty five degree cutter

Sheister,

I looked at both sets and picked the military kit, my thought is the drill will be less likely to torque the pilot off center.